Nevada Nevada Check Up Program ⇑– Offers health care coverage to children living in Nevada that meet the program requirements, Call: 800-318-2596

Nevada Medical Assistance for the Aged, Blind and Disabled (MAABD) Program⇑– Provides medical services for Nevada residents that are eligible for means-tested public assistance programs and meet other program requirements, Call: 800-992-0900

Nevada Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) ⇑ – A special supplemental nutrition program that serves income eligible pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk, Call: 800-863-8942

Nevada National School Lunch Program (NSLP) ⇑– Provides low-cost or free lunches to school children, Call: 702-668-4585

Nevada Special Milk Program ⇑ – Offers milk to children in schools, childcare institutions, and eligible camps, Call: 702-668-4585

Nevada Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) ⇑ – Provides free meals and snacks to help low-income children in the summer months, Call: 702-668-4585

Nevada Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) ⇑– Provides healthy meals and snacks to children and adults receiving day care, Call: 702-668-4585

Nevada Head Start ⇑ – Comprehensive child development programs serving low-income children and their families, Call: Head Start near you

Nevada Energy Assistance Program (EAP) ⇑ – Designed to help eligible Nevada households with their heating and electric costs, Call: 800-992-0900

Nevada Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)⇑– Designed to help improve the health of low-income elderly persons at least 60 yeas of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA Foods, Call: 775-353-3758

Food Assistance Programs, Services, and Organizations in Nevada

Nevada Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or the Food Stamps Program as it is known by the public, is a federal program that provides grants to the States for purpose of reducing the hunger and malnutrition in all eligible households across the nation. SNAP helps provide healthy food to qualifying low-income families with children, elderly or disabled in each State of the USA, including Nevada. Learn more about SNAP.

It is important to know that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a federal entitlement program funded by U.S. Government grants. Any U.S. Citizen, even some legal alien residents will get free food assistance as long as they meet the SNAP eligibility guidelines. In other words, there is enough Supplemental Nutrition Assistance for every American that qualifies.

In Nevada, the SNAP is known as Nevada Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programand is administered by the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS) under Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The Federal Government pays 100% of Nevada SNAP Benefits with federal grants appropriated for SNAP. The SNAP federal grants also pay a share of the Nevada SNAP administrative cost.

According to Nevada Human and Community Services Division, “The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly Food Stamps) helps low-income people and families buy the food they need for good health.”

Who is Eligible for SNAP (Food Stamps) in Nevada?

The eligibility rules and benefit amounts in Nevada, like in other States, are based on limited income, limited liquid resources, household size, and other requirements, some of them specific to each State. Most eligibility rules are determined by regulations issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service.

The federal law allows States some flexibility when implementing SNAP on a State level. State agencies can adapt some of the food assistance program rules in order to meet the needs of eligible, low‐income local population.

Nevada Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is designed for individuals and families with limited income resources, who compose a household, and purchase and prepare their meals together for home consumption. People living with roommates, people who are temporary unemployed, or people who are homeless can also get food stamps if they meet specific eligibility guidelines.

For the purpose of the Nevada SNAP, certain people must be included in on household account even if they purchase and prepare meals separately. Husbands and wives of any household member, their children under age 22 when living together, plus children younger than 18 who are dependents of an adult household member are all considered as a part of one household formation.

In Nevada anyone with limited income and resources may apply for food stamps but, in general, to qualify for Nevada SNAP (Food Stamp) Benefits you must meet the following basic eligibility requirements:

Nevada Resident – must be a U.S. Citizen or a legal resident with SNAP eligible non-citizen status;

Work Requirement – unless exempted, each able-bodied household member who is 16 to 60 year old must be registered to work, and accept a suitable employment offer;

Resource Limits – no asset limits if you meet SNAP categorical eligibility, all others must have countable household assets limited to $2,250 or less ($3,250 or less for households containing a member who is disabled or 60 years of age or older);

Income Limits – Income limits eligibility depends on the household size and composition. Households with no elderly or disabled individuals must meet both standard gross (130% of FPL) and net income limits. Households with elderly or disabled individuals must meet only the net income limits (100% of FPL). Gross income includes wages, salaries, commissions, dividends, child support, self-employment income, unemployment compensation, social security benefits and other.

Some Nevada residents may be automatically or so called categorically eligible for Food Stamps if they already participate in other means tested assistance programs. Getting any benefits funded by federal grants from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance, tribal TANF cash assistance, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can make the applicant for SNAP benefits categorically eligible, thus bypassing the standard income eligibility and asset eligibility rules.

Under the federal SNAP regulations, States do have to assign a gross income limit of 200% of the federal poverty line (FPL) or less in order to use any federal grant funded benefit that can make Food Assistance applicants eligible. Please, contact your local DWSS for more details on SNAP categorical eligibility.

See the table for Maximum Monthly Income (measured as percentage of federal poverty level – FPL) allowable for SNAP Benefits Eligibility in State of Nevada, as per household size:

[table id=39 /]

Source: USDA, SNAP Income Eligibility Standards

Quick Eligibility Check

Use this Pre-Screening Tool to find out if you may be eligible to get Nevada SNAP Benefits (Food Stamps).

The screening allows interested in getting Nevada food stamps to provide some basic information and find out if they are potentially eligible for benefits.

If you use this Pre-Screening Tool you will be notified immediately on the screen if you qualify after completing the questionnaire. This is a pre-screening information, and you still have to make an application at your local Nevada DWSS office.

Even if you are unsure whether you would qualify you still may be eligible for SNAP Benefits and you should still apply. Division of Welfare and Supportive Services is the agency in Nevada that can make final determination regarding your SNAP application in this State and grant you benefits.

What are Maximum Nevada SNAP (Food Stamps) Benefits?

If approved, the Nevada SNAP benefit amounts depend on the household size and the amount of the their net income. USDA has maximum SNAP benefit limits per month per household size. Check below what are the maximum food stamp assistance monetary amounts a household can get. The dollar amounts of the food stamp benefits are called allotments.

[table id=29 /]

Source: USDA, SNAP Maximum Allotments

How to Apply for SNAP Benefits (Food Stamps) in Nevada?

To apply for SNAP benefits in Nevada download and print the Application for Assistance form offered by the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services.

The same application form can be used to apply for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program which offers cash benefits to qualifying families.

More than one assistance program in an application is common practice by a lot of the States, since most of the people in need of food stamps are likely to be in need of cash.

Applicants for SNAP in State of Nevada have the right to file an application in person, through an authorized representative, by fax, by mail or online. The SNAP application may be submitted the to any local DWSS office.

If you are to file a paper Application for Assistance – just fill out all required information on the application and mail or turn it in any DWSS office.

If you do not have all the information that is needed to complete the SNAP application, provide as much as you can – but you must include your name, social security number, and your signature for the DWSS office to accept it. All required information and its verification can be provided later at the interview or upon request.

The application process includes an SNAP eligibility interview and information verification. After you have submitted your application, the DWSS office will contact you to set up an interview and verify the information on your application. If you are elderly or disabled individual, call the DWSS office to request your SNAP eligibility interview conducted over the phone.

If appearing for an interview, you will meet with a caseworker who will determine if you qualify for benefits, and if you do, determine the amount of benefits. You will also receive information from the caseworker or other staff about job requirements/opportunities and your responsibilities.

Before a decision is made a DWSS caseworker has to verify all the paperwork and interview you. During the interview you will receive information about SNAP work requirements and your responsibilities if participating in the program.

Within 30 days of the interview, if eligible, you will receive a notice stating how much food assistance benefit and for how long your household is eligible for before a review of the case is due, along with reporting requirements.

The SNAP benefit amount depends on the household size and its net income – that is all countable income minus all allowable deductions.

If Nevada DWSS finds you eligible for SNAP benefits, you will be entitled to receive food stamps from the date your signed application was received.

Nevada SNAP applicants also have the option to apply for benefits online using Access Nevada – the Nevada State Online Application System that enables users to apply for Food Assistance, Medical Assistance and Cash Assistance Benefits.

Nevada SNAP Benefits Approval, Rules, Proofs Required

In addition to filing an application in State of Nevada, the process to determine your SNAP eligibility includes an interview and information verification.

The Nevada DWSS has a list of examples of documents and information that may be needed at the interview:

Proof of Identity / Citizenship:

Government Issued Driver’s License

Government Issued Identification Card

Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood

School Identification

U.S. Military Card or Draft Record

U.S. Military Dependent ID Card

U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Marine Card

United States Passport

Certificate of Naturalization

Certificate of United States Citizenship (INS Form N-560 or N-561)

Certified Original United States Birth Certificate

Proof of Nevada Residency:

Current lease or rental agreement

Rent Receipt

Current Mortgage Statement

Nevada Driver’s License

Nevada Voter Registration

Statement regarding Homeless situation

Income – Earned / Unearned:

Pay stubs, earnings statements from employers, if employment ended in the last 90 days, verification of the job ending

Additional information and proof may be required by your caseworker depending on your application and household situation. In case you are not able to provide all the information during the SNAP application interview, you may be given time to provide the required proof.

Applicants for SNAP benefits in Nevada should get a response within 30 days from the date they submitted their application to the DWSS. When start getting food stamps benefits, households must report any changes of their situation in a set by the agency period of time in order to assure their participation in the Nevada Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Under the simplified reporting option, households are required to report changes in income between certification and scheduled reporting periods when total countable income rises above 130% of the poverty level or when work hours change for able‐bodied adults without dependents.

SNAP regulations require all non‐exempt household members to comply with work requirements. Work requirements include registering for work, not voluntarily quitting a job, and accepting a suitable employment offer for all SNAP benefit recipients age 16 through 59 if they are not exempt. As per federal SNAP guidelines, individuals who fail to comply with SNAP work requirements without good cause are ineligible for program benefits and disqualified from SNAP for certain periods of time, depending on how many prior instances of non‐compliance there have been.

The law limits the SNAP benefits to 3 months in a 3-year period for all able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 through 49 without dependents, who are not working or participating in a work program for at least 20 hours each week.

As part of the SNAP federal grant assistance requirements, each State has to offer employment and training (E&T) program to its SNAP benefits recipients. Participants in such programs, where available, can get adult education, vocational training, job skills training for specific jobs, and work experience via short-term unpaid work assignments. The main goal of the work requirement is to help the SNAP benefits recipients get jobs, reduce or eliminate their dependency on the government benefits.

Call 1-775-684-0615 if you want to find more about Nevada Employment and Training Program offered to SNAP recipients.

Approved! When and How Do I Get the SNAP Benefits?

Nevada Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides the benefits via the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system. The monetary benefits of the Nevada SNAP benefits are transferred to the accounts of qualified beneficiaries and are accessible through an Nevada EBT card. The Nevada SNAP Benefits are deposited into the recipients accounts each month following the Benefit Issuance Schedule.

How and Where to Use the SNAP Benefits?

Nevada SNAP benefits are provided via the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system. The monetary benefits of the Nevada SNAP are transferred into the accounts of qualified beneficiaries and are accessible through Nevada EBT Cards. Households and individuals can use their EBT cards and spend the benefits like cash at any Nevada grocery stores and farmers’ markets that are authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to accept SNAP (food stamp) benefits.

Check this list of Nevada SNAP participating stores that are authorized to take EBT cards for purchasing of SNAP eligible food items. Eligible food items are any food to be eaten at home by people, including baby food, non-alcoholic beverages, and seasonings. Seeds and plants to grow food for your own family’s consumption are also allowed to be purchased with food stamp benefits. You cannot buy non-grocery items with food stamp benefits, such as cleaning products, pet food, paper products, alcohol, or tobacco.

I Need Food Assistance Now. It is an Emergency!

Some households may get Expedited Services – that is getting Food Stamp Benefits within 7 calendar days if your household has less than $150 in monthly gross income and liquid resources (cash, checking or savings accounts) of $100 or less; or your rent/mortgage and utilities are more than your household’s combined monthly income and liquid resources; or a member of your household is a migrant or seasonal farm worker. In order to get expedite assistance, if you qualify for it, provide all required information and proof as soon as possible. Call 1-800-992-0900 for more information on Nevada Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Homeowners Assistance and Housing Programs

Nevada – Making Home Affordable options

Making Home Affordable is a federal program designed to cover different homeowners’ hardships and financial situations. Under the program there are various options that can help Nevada homeowners in hardship stay in their homes. Depending on the situation Nevada homeowners in hardship can apply to lower their monthly payments, lower the interest rate on their home loan or even get principal reduction in some cases.

There are foreclosure alternatives and temporarily help for unemployed homeowners as well.

Here are some of the most used options under Making Home Affordable Program: